WITH one win in their last 16 cup games in all competitions at home and abroad, Motherwell's players could be excused for approaching today's match against Dundee United with a measure of trepidation.
However, the Lanarkshire side's caretaker manager Kenny Black has urged them to show no inferiority complex in the William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at Fir Park.
Unlike recent seasons, Motherwell will kick off their bid to win the famous trophy on the back of equally poor league form, having won once in seven games. What encourages Black, though, is the fact the victory came against Dundee United at Fir Park three weeks ago.
Black now hopes a repeat of that result this afternoon can turn round their whole season and put them back on the road to Hampden for the first time since 2011.
He said: "In my first year here at Motherwell with Stuart, we reached the Scottish Cup final against Celtic.It wasn't a good game from our point of view, as we lost 3-0 and didn't do ourselves justice. However, the games leading up to the final and the build-up to the day were most enjoyable.
"We would like more of the same. It would give a massive lift to the players, supporters and everyone at the club. All the pluses that come with a run in the cup are there for everyone to see, such as financial advantages and the chance to build up confidence and some momentum to take into the league campaign."
Black added: "We'll have to match the commitment we showed three weeks ago to progress against a very good United. The good thing about that performance is the fact it showed our players there is no reason to have an inferiority complex. They can go out and play with confidence."
Dundee United's last Scottish Cup final appearance came in May when they lost 2-0 to St Johnstone. For their midfielder Ryan Dow it is a match that hinged on a chance he had at 0-0 when his shot hit a post before rolling along the goal-line and being cleared.
Dow admits he has watched that agonising moment numerous times on TV but insists it can drive him on in his quest to secure silverware for his team this season.
He said: "I still don't know how my shot did not go in. It gets closer every time I watch it. If that had gone in, it might have been a different game but we didn't perform on the day and St Johnstone deserved to win."
Dow insists the pain he and his team-mates felt at losing that match will spur them on to launch another cup run, starting today at Fir Park.
"It was the worst experience ever to lose in the final," he said. "The best thing to do now is just go into this competition again and try to win it. If we can beat Motherwell and luck goes our way we could go far in the cup this season. Half of the Premiership teams could go out in this round."
Dow, a 23-year-old attacker who will replace suspended Nadir Ciftci up front for United today, added: "Motherwell beat us recently but we missed a few chances in that game. If we can take them this time round, I'm confident we can win the game."
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